Families displaced after Bronx autobody shop fire spreads to nearby homes; 4 firefighters injured

VAN NEST, The Bronx (WABC) -- Firefighters battled a massive fire at a Bronx autobody shop that spread to nearby homes.

Saturday was a day of hustle and bustle at Zeny Tires and Rims on East Tremont Avenue. The shop was filed with cars until the manager noticed fire in the back just before 11:30 a.m.

Guarionex Colon says he lost 20 years of work -- and it hurts.

Customers, too suffered a lost. Workers estimate at least 10 cars were destroyed in the fast-moving fire -- the shop was filled with flammable materials.

"There was an awful lot of fire. We also had concerns about the structural stability of the building. We did have a collapse of the building. One of the walls to the rear," said FDNY Chief of Department John Esposito.

Firefighters dodged the collapse, but four of them sustained minor injuries.

"When I was walking up the block I saw the smoke and I was like 'wait, that's my dad's shop,' and when I got home it was just straight fire -- couldn't see nothing, just smoke and fire, and it's just devastating, you know?" said the manager's son, Andy Colon.

It was devastating also for the roughly 16 people who were displaced from nearby homes that the flames spread to, according to officials. The Red Cross says it is assisting four families.

"I know I'm alive but damn I'm tired of struggling. I'm tired of going through catastrophes. I just got my spine repaired. I've got nothing but metal in my back. I'm not well. And then this. So now I'm homeless," said Jacy Hudson.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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